Location

Search Guide

Search Guide

An integrated search service for materials held by the National Library of Korea and other partner institutions. Search results are shown by category: Collections and Full-text Databases.

Collections

Integrated search service for domestic and foreign materials held by the National Library of Korea, including monographs, serials, multimedia, alternative Materials, web resources, maps, music scores, Overseas Records on Korea, other, and so on.

Digitized Materials

The Library provides digitization services for some of the materials held by the NLK, including old and rare documents such as valuable materials and single copies, and the materials for which five years have passed since the dates of their publication.

Search

"Collection" search

"Collections" search is a keyword search service. Other options include: advanced search, keyword autocomplete and multilingual keyboard. Words starting with the same consonant-vowel sequences as those being typed in the search box are shown for faster search.

Keyword Autocomplete

Service for autocompleting search words based on an analysis of the most frequently searched keywords.

Multilingual Keyboard

Special characters can be typed by using the multilingual keyboard.

Advanced search

Advanced search enables performing a more accurate search by various fields such as keyword, author, title, publisher, and so on.

Material Type Classification

The left hand menu bar on the search results page shows the breakdown of search results by material type. By clicking on a material type, results of only the selected type are displayed.

Refine search results

By using the left hand menu bar, search results can be refined by not only material type but also by full-text availability, publication year, subject, and so on.

The Library provides digitization services for some of the materials held by the NLK, including old and rare documents such as valuable materials and single copies, and the materials for which five years have passed since the dates of their publication.

Search by Subject (KDC)

Restrictions on Using Digitized Materials

Full-texts digitized by the National Library of Korea for which their copyrights have expired or their use has been approved can be used by anyone free of charge. However, fees apply for the use of all other copyrighted materials under the Copyright Act (Article 31 Reproductions in Libraries and so on). Fees are charged based on the relevant policies of partner libraries (including public, university, research and special libraries) that are under an agreement with the National Library of Korea.

Types of Digitized Materials

How to use

Types

Description

Old books and manuscripts

A full-text database of various digitized old books and manuscripts such as Cultural heritage pieces (national treasures, treasures, etc.) and the old and rare collection
* Including the national treasure “Sipchil Sachan Gogeum Tongyo (Essentials of Seventeen Dynastic Histories)”; the treasures “Seokbo Sangjeol (Episodes from the Life of Sakyamuni Buddha)” and “Dongui Bogam (Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine)”; and “Gyuwon Sahwa (Historical Tales of Ancient Korea)”

Old maps

A full-text database of digitized old maps with links to indexes and information on specific places to facilitate place and location search

Textbooks

A full-text database of digitized textbooks

Domestically published Korea-related materials written in non-Korean language

A full-text database of digitized materials on Korea, written in a foreign language and published in Korea

Official gazettes (1894-1945)

A full-text database of digitized official gazettes of the Korean Empire and Japanese Governor-General of Korea, published between 1894 and 1945

Monographs

A full-text database of digitized monographs

Materials related to Dokdo Island

A full-text database of digitized materials related to Dokdo Island

Materials issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

A full-text database of digitized materials on culture issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and affiliated institutions

New Literature novels

A full-text database of digitized New Literature novels published during the past 100 years, selected by the Korea Writers Association and for which copyright issues have been cleared

Music scores

A full-text database of digitized music scores* Donations with reviews by Korea Media Rating Board

Materials for children and young adults

A full-text database of digitized materials for children and young adults selected and recommended by various relevant organizations and private collections housed in National Library for Children and Young Adults

Valuable copies of serials

A full-text database of digitized serials that are published prior to 1950 and designated as valuable materials * Including the monthly magazines “Gaebyeok (Great Opening)” and “Sonyeon (The Boy)” from the 1920s

Academic books

A full-text database of digitized academic books selected by the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Korea

Doctoral dissertations in humanities

A full-text database of digitized doctoral dissertations in the humanities

Japanese materials (until 1945)

A full-text database of digitized materials of significance published in Japanese prior to 1945

Government publications

A full-text database of digitzed government publications such as rare policy data

Newspapers

A full-text database of digitized newspapers published from 1945 to 1955 such as "Hwangsung Soonbo" and "Jaegook Shinmun" Note: Old newspapers are classified as Korea Open Government License (KOGL) Type 1 materials and can be freely used.

Classical novels published in Hangul (the Korean alphabet)

A full-text database of digitized classic Korean novels published from 1910s to 1930s such as "Ttakjibon Novels", "Yookjeon Novels" and the storybook series.